Elastic clamp



June 1, 1954 G. s. GARBER, JR

ELASTIC CLAMP Filed March 3, 1952 INVENTOR GUY S. GARBER JR. BY

FIG.

ATTORNEY Patented June 1, 1954 UNITED @ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to clamps and more particularly to a clamping device designed to engage an article at each of its ends and to tension that article by the elasticity of the member joining the clamping devices.

My invention is designed to provide a clamping device which may be anchored on each end to a flexible article such as a bandage or an infants diaper and when the ends are released the article will be drawn together tightly. Engagement of the article can be effected simply and rapidly yet the engagement is both secure and will not slip. The clamps at each end of my invention are designed to be easily and firmly gripped to facilitate placement and anchoring. My invention is fabricated from materials making it possible to repeatedly sterilize and launder it without injury.

These and other objects and purposes of my invention will be seen by those acquainted with the design and use of articles of this type upon reading the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of one of the end plates of my invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane III-III. of Figure 2, showing only the contour of the end plate.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken along the plane IVIV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the end ofthe elastic, connecting member for my invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, front view of a modified plate for my invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, side view of the plate shown in Figure 6.

In executing the objects and purposes of my invention, I have provided a pair of plates joined by an elastic member. Each of the plates has a pair of prongs for engaging th article to which it is to be attached and is contoured to facilitate holding the article while it is being placed and to maintain its grip once anchored.

In the following description the terms inner and outer are frequently used and are to be taken to mean inner toward the center of the clamp assembly and outer away therefrom. The terms upwardly and downwardly are frequently used and are to be taken to mean upwardly as the plate appears in Figure 4 and downwardly away therefrom.

Referring now to the drawings, the numerals I and 2 refer to a pair of end plates joined by an elastic member 3. The plates I and 2 are identical. Therefore, a description of one will suffice for both. Both plates are made from non-toxic, corrosion resistant, rigid material such as a plastic but preferably they are fabricated from stainless steel.

The plate I is somewhat peanut shaped having an outer end and an inner end 5 integral through a waist portion 6 (Figure 2). The waist portion is somewhat narrower than the inner and outer end portions. At the waist portion 6, the edges I of the plate are bent downwardly to give the plate, transversely, a somewhat convex shape at the waist (Figure 3). This shaping of the waist forms a grip whereby the plate may be easily and firmly grasped between the fingers. The entire plate, longitudinally, is upwardly arched (Figure 4) so that each end is urged to bear down against the article to which it is attached. This longitudinal, convex contouring of the plate also facilitates the grasping of the plate at its waist.

A pair of prongs 8 are struck from the outer end of the plate. The prongs 8 are located, one each side of the longitudinal centerline of the plate 4. Each of the prongs 8 is triangular, the pointed end extending toward the inner end 5 of the plate. The prongs 8, adjacent the point at which they are integral with the plate, extend down from the plate at a sharp angle and, toward their pointed end, are bent to somewhat parallel the plate (Figure 4). Thus, the prongs 8 may secure a firm grip but will not have a tend-- ency to prick the wearer.

A generally rectangular aperture It] is formed in the inner end 5 of the plate. The material struck from the aperture I0 is formed into a coil I I (Figure 4) extending below the plate along the inner edge of the aperture.

The plates I and 2 are joined by the strap 3. The strap 3 is made from a strong, durable, elastic material capable of exerting a substantial pull. The strap must also be capable of substantial elongation. Neoprene is a preferred material for this strap because of its ability to withstand repeated applications of heat such as would be encountered when my invention is laundered or sterilized in an autoclave. Also neoprene is not efiected by the liquids and other chemicals which may frequently contact the strap.

At each end, a head I2 is molded on the strap 3. The head 12 is pointed and substantially thicker than the main body of the strap 3. The

' head has a deep, transverse groove I3 along its inner end (Figure 4), the ends M of the groove I3 being rounded (Figure 5) to prevent tearing. The lip l5, forming one wall of the groove [3, is of such thickness that it will not readily bend back to release the coil ll when the strap 3 is under tension.

The length of the strap 3 will depend upon the particular application of my invention. It may vary from less than an inch to several inches in length.

In the design of the plate Ia shown in Figure 6, the shape and contouring of the plate are the same as that of the plate I. The aperture i0, however, is replaced by an elongated slot 26 opening through one side of the plate. The arm 2| of the plate encircling the inner end of the slot has an outwardly turned hook 22 designed to restrict the entrance 23 to the slot 20 to a narrow passageway communicating with one outer corner of the slot 20. The material struck out in making the slot 20 proper, is bent downwardly to form a coil 24 (Figure 6) similar to the coil H, both in shape and purpose. When the open ended slot 20 is used, the strap may consist either of the strap 3a having a closed loop 25 at each end (Figure 7) or it may consist of an endless band. At each loop 25 the free end of the strap is tapered so that it may be secured to the face of the strap and form a neat, smooth joint. The loop 25 is closed by cementing or welding the end and face of the strap together to form a secure joint adapted to resist separation while in use. The coil 24 provides a smoothly rounded bearing surface of substantial thickness for the strap. Thus, the strap will not be cut by being pulled tightly against the thin body of the plate. The use of the open ended slot 2!) permits the strap to be removed either for cleaning or replacement.

The plates 1 and 2, when the strap 3 is used, are assembled by squeezing the heads l2 through the apertures [0 in each plate. The head [2 is pulled entirely through the aperture, released to regain its normal shape, and pulled back to seat the loop I l in the groove IS. The outer or pointed end of the head I2 extends beyond the aperture l0 and bears tightly against the under surface of the plate. Thus, when the strap 3 pulls away from the plate, the loop II seated in the groove I3 holds the strap while the outer end of the head 12 prevents the head from pivoting upwardly through the aperture l0.

In using my invention, one of the plates l and 2 is grasped by its waist 6 and moved inwardly to cause the prongs 8 to pierce and thereby grip the article to which it is to be attached. The

other plate is then grasped by its waist B and the strap 3 stretched until the desired tension or pull is created. The prongs are then caused to pierce and engage the article firmly. Upon release of this latter plate, the strap 3 will firmly pull the article together.

When my invention is applied to an infant's diaper, the elasticity of the strap 3 will pull the diaper gently but firmly about the infant's body. Thereafter, if the infant contracts its abdomen, the contraction of the strap will pull the diaper in, maintaining a firm engagement with the infants body. Thus, the diaper will not fall off. The same is true when my invention is used to secure the end of a bandage. This is particularly important when the bandage is applied to a part of the body which is flexed while the bandage is in use. There are numerous other uses for my invention, the two described above being merely illustrative.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a fabric material securing device the combination including: A pair of identical oppositely disposed thin longitudinally arched peanutshaped plates having peripheral stiffening ridges, prongs at one end of each plate extending downwardly and in the direction of the end remote from said pronged end, and a rectangular opening in each plate transversely across and through said plates adjacent the said end remote from said pronged end and a curled lip upon the edge of said opening adjacent said end remote from said pronged end; and a flat elastic member substantially equal in width to the width of said rectangular opening connectably between said plates, said member having integral heads upon its terminal end on one side only of said elastic member and having a groove paralleling said flat elastic member partially and transversely through the said heads, and said grooves impinging upon said curled lip upon insertion through said rectangular opening in said plates and said heads elevating and cushioning the said ends of said plates remote from said pronged end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 261,208 Grosman July 18, 1882 565,818 Ward Aug. 11, 1896 762,789 Williams June 14, 1904 1,691,810 Itzerott Nov. 13, 1928 2,004,702 Luttman June 11, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 394,334 Great Britain June 21, 1933 

